June 2006

Sunday, June 25, 2006

Jay-Z's practice round for tonight's celebration in honor of the 10th Anniversary of his "Reasonable Doubt" LP release date was H-0-T...pun intended. After waiting in a long ass line to get in (thank god it wasn't raining) we had the enjoyment of waiting in a hot Nokia until 11:15 for jigga to come out. The Nokia's performance space was abuzz with a mixture of excitement and impatience. Impatience turned to elation as the curtains were swept aside unveiling a string orchestra, conductor, horns, and percussion backing Jay-Z as he showcased "Reasonable Doubt". Questlove of the Roots acted as drummer and musical director.

Reasonable Doubt's storied history began as a
bootlegged cassette tape, circulating among New York's hip-hop
community. While the buzz on the young rapper from Brooklyn's Marcy
Projects grew, the man who would go on to be crowned 'The Greatest MC
of All Time' in a recent MTV News survey still struggled to land a
record deal. As a result, Roc-A-Fella Records was born, and Reasonable
Doubt was released on June 25, 1996.

Jay-Z treated the crowd to overtime following the completion of the album run-through. I left a few songs in but the crowd was definitely bumpin' with enjoyment.

The highlight for me was the transformation of the end of "22 Two's" into "44 Four's".

Sit Down Stand Up was there as well and has the details on the few guests that joined Jay-Z

Band of Horses played to a sold out, intern-infested crowd at the Bowery Ballroom this past Friday. I was into the show from the first notes of the set opener, the excellent song "Monster". Even better when they played "First Song" in the #2 slot. Aside from a couple foul notes here and there, the band was spot on for the entire show. "Funeral" kicked major ass live....with the strikingly fierce vocal delivery of lead vocalist Ben Bidwell leading the crowd into a fury.

Highlights other than "Funeral" were "Our Swords", "Wicked Gil" (the uptempo album version, not the encore chilled out version"....yes, they played it twice), and "Weed Party". Mt. Egypt's singer came out during the set for a duet Hall and Oates' cover.

Sunday, June 18, 2006

I've seen the Monks twice now. They were excellent the last time (sans the nonchalant stage prescience). They are a super tight sounding group of nineteen to twenty year old musicians. Minor griping for no encore but I take solace in the fact "Fake Tales Of S.F.", "Mardy Bum", and "When The Sun Goes Down" were so amazingly awesome.

Brooklynvegan was there, taking some amazing photos ta boot, ta boot.Remarkably, this was the first time I had seen We Are Scientists. They were good - very indietacular. A few AM's joined them on one song during the set.

Sunday, June 11, 2006

Seattle's Band Of Horses have ruled my iPod for the better part of 2006. I dig Everything All the Time in its entirety all the time. Something about the band's take on indie-rock hits home with me, cajoling me into bobbing my head and hum along to the melody. Needless to say, I'm stoked for Friday's NYC show.

Thursday, June 08, 2006

THANK JAH!!!!!!! It's Friday. A special Friday indeed...I normally am not one to boast, but today I get to meet a legend. The man who took THIS MAN from the ghettos of Trenchtown all over the world spreading the gospel of reggae.

The list speaks for itself and, despite my utter love for Peter Tosh (and complete disappointment in how Blackwell forced Pete out in order to shine the light solely on Bob), I have to raise this man as a legend in the music industry.

Here is what Blackwell said in regards to the legacy of Bob:

Bob is somebody who was an incredible role model. Anybody you talk to, who has witnessed him, knows he really led by example. He was always on time for things-- which is hardly a Jamaican trait.

I went on a lot of the 1980 tour and he was always the first one on the bus. Traditionally, the star is the last one on the bus, if he isn't going in a limo. If there were a lot of people and they had to fly economy, he would travel with them. He never put himself in a position where he would be seen as being different from anybody else.

In that respect, he was somebody who lived up to the example of the leaders of all the main religions: there is one quality all such figures have, which is humility. And Bob really had that natural humility. He was also a natural leader. Absolutely, truly natural.

Here is few crucial live tracks from H.I.M. Robert Nesta Marley, OM. Big Up Chris Blackwell...SEEN!!! in the words of Bob, ...lord I thank you....feel alright now....i'm gonna put it on....